Football slide rule

ABSTRACT

Slide rule device for use in connection with a football game, including a scale laid out to correspond to the yard line markers on a football playing field, an indicator for marking the starting position of a ball on the playing field, and a movable calculating member for determining distances on the playing field with respect to the starting position of the ball.

Bortz 111] 3,729,130 1 51 Apr. 24, 1973 122] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 127,459

1541 FOOTBALL SLIDE RULE [76] Inventor: Milton H. Bortz, 1550 Shenandoah Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237 Mar. 24, 1971 [:52] Cl. ..235/70 R, 116/120, 273/94 R 11,736,603 1 H1929 Kennedy ..1 16/120 l,757,088 5/1930 Holmes ..116/120 1,870,515 8/1932 Kotlar ..l l6/12O 3,043,594 7/1962 Seitz ..273/94 R Primary ExaminerStephen J. Tomsky Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney-Melville, Strasser, Foster & Hoffman 51 lntQ Cl. ..G06g 1/02 ABSTRACT [58] l gg 6 5 "9"".:" 78 88 G; Slide rule device for use in connection with a football 3 2 273/94 I I3] game, including a scale laid out to correspond to the I 6/120 yard line markers on a football playing field, an indicator for marking the starting position of a ball on [56] References Clted the playing field, and a movable calculating member UNITED STATES PATENTS for determining distances on the playing field with A respect to the starting position of the ball. 1,537,605 v5/1925 Hansen ..116/120 1,584,141 5/1926 Purnell ..1 16/120 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures e 20 so 40 40 3o 20 a a 4 111111111l1111l1111l1111|1111l1111l1111l111 11 1111 1'11 illllllllllllllll llllllllll 55 5O 45 40 35' Z5 2O 15 45 40 3O 25 20 If /0 5 Z0 25 3O .15 40 111111111111l111l1111l111||1111 lo I lie I lzo I 130 I '40 I law" so 60 1o 50 so V FOOTBALL SLIDE RULE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates toa slide rule type device for use in connection with the enjoyment of football. The device is intended primarily for use by a spectator during observation of an actual football game, enabling him to readily and accurately keep track of the progress of play, and make certain desirable statistical calculations quickly and easily. The invention'may be readily adapted for use in connection with a simulated football game employing dice, spinners, cards, and the like.

The explosive growth of organized football on all levels, and the widespread radio and television broadcasting of games have brought the excitement and drama of football to a vast segment of the population In many cases, the spectators enjoyment of the contest is enchanced as his knowledge and understanding of the game increases.

the computationand recordation of a wide variety of statistical information.

In the case of a spectator viewing a football game first hand, it is normally rather easy to accurately follow play on the field. However, it is often difficult for such a spectator to readily obtain and/or compute certain statistical information, such as, for example, the length of punts from the line of scrimmage, and the like.

In the case of the spectator following a football game by television or radio, these problems are often magnified. That is, the frequent interruption of a broadcast by commercials and the like may cause the broadcaster to omit information, such as yards needed for a first down and the like.

- Keeping the foregoing comments in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a slide rule device for use in connection with the enjoyment of football. More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, slide rule device on which a spectator can accurately follow the play on the field, and make certain desirable statistical computations.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a devicewhich includes provision for indicating the position of the ball on the playing field, and for making the yardage calculations with respect to that position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device of the type outlined above which includes provision for accurately indicating the required first down yardage at all times.

g, It is a further specific object of this invention to provide a device which will enable the user to readily SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention,-in its broadest terms, contemplates a slide rule device havinga base member or stator which is provided with a scale laid out to correspond to the yard line markings on a football playing field. The slide and the cursor of the device may be utilized as explained in more detail hereinafter to locate the position of a ball on the playing field, and to indicate at all times the required first down yardage. The slide is provided with indicia spaced to correspond to the markings on the stator, and divided into two scales, each having a zero point generally located at or near the center of the slide and ascending in opposite directions from the zero point or points. Relative movement between the slide and stator permit ready and accurate calculation of a variety of distances ori the playing field.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS vention combining certain of the scales shown in FIGS.

1 and 3.

DESCRIPTION oF THE PREFE R D EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of the slide rule having a molded or otherwise formed stator indicated generally at 10 and having a central channel in which is slidably mounted the slide 12. In the form shown in FIG. 1, the upper portion of the stator 10 is provided with indicia arranged in a scale 14spaced and numbered to correspond to the yard line designations on a football playing field. It will be observed that the fifty-yard line mark is in the center of the scale14, and the numbers decrease from the fifty-yard; line to the goalline at each end. of .the field. V

According to this embodiment of the invention, the

. position-of the ball on the playing field is vmarkedby means of the indicator line 16 on a cursor 18.. It will be apparent that the cursor 18 must be mounted for sliding motion along the stator 10. As seen in cross section in FIG. 2, the stator 18 may desirably be a formed piece of clear plastic material having an inwardly turned flange 20 adapted to slide in a groove on the rear of the upper portion of the stator 10. It will be apparent from a consideration of FIG. 2 that by virtue of this construction, the cursor 18 does not wrap around both the top and bottom edges of the stator.

The slide 12 is provided with indicia along its upper edge which are spaced to correspond to the indicia in the scale .14. A careful examination will disclose that these indicia on the slide 12 are numbered in two scales, each having a zero point generally in the center of the slide and ascending in opposite directions from the zero points. For example, it will be observed that the line 22 is a zero point for the scale ascending from left to right, while the line 24 is the zero point for the scale ascending from right to left. 1

In this particular embodiment of the invention, it will be observed that as just described, the zero points of the two scales overlap. It will be noted that the total length of this overlap is equal to ten yards on the scale 14, and, as is well known, this is also equal to the required first down yardage in a football game. The

area of the overlap may be colored or otherwise shaded as indicated in FIG. 1 at 26.

Use of the slide rule device just described should be clear to anyone familiar with the game of football. At the beginning of any series of plays, the position of the ball on the playing field scale 14 will be marked with the indicator line 16 on the cursor 18. At the same time, and assuming for example that the team moving from left to right has possession of the ball, the zero line 22 on the slide will be positioned directly under the indicator 16. When set up in this manner, it will be apparent that the distance between the lines 22 and 24 will indicate the required first down yardage for the team having possession of the ball and line 24 will indicate and be opposite the yard position on the playing field scale 14 past which the ball must move for a first down.

Movement of the ball on the playing field scale 14 will be followed with the indicator 16, and it will be apparent that this will at all times indicate, by reading the designations on the slide 12, the distance required for a first down, even when the teamhaving possession of the ball is thrown for a loss. The ten yard overlap feature at the center of scales on slide 12 permit minimum movementof the slide 12 when a first down is gained or when the movement of the ball changes direction by reason of the ball changing possession or at the end of a quarter. a

A variety of other calculations may be made during the course of the game. For example, when the team moving from left to right is in a punting situation, the zero mark 22 can be located at the line of scrimmage. The cursor may be moved and the indicator line 16 placed at the point on scale 14 where the opposing team received the punt. Reading on the scale on the slide 12 will immediately give the length of the punt from the line of scrimmage.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is also provided with means on the bottom of the stator for recording a variety of information. In each case, a small wheel such as shown at 28 and carrying numbers on one side will be mounted for rotation in a recess in the lower edge of the stator 10. Numbers on the wheel will then appear through, for example, the window 30. The

various wheels and windows along the lower edge of the stator 10 can be arranged to provide for any desired data. For example, windows may be provided for indicating the score of the two teams, the downs, the number of time outs taken, the number of time outs remaining, a cumulative total of first downs, the

number of passes attempted, the number of passes As seen in FIGS. 3, the scale 36 on the top of the stator is exactly the same as the scale 14 described in the earlier embodiment.

According to this embodiment, it will be seen that the slide 34 is again provided with two scales, ascending in opposite directions from a zero point near the center of the slide 34. According to this embodiment, it will be observed that the two scales have a common zero point 38. The zero point 38 in this embodiment of the invention is utilized to follow the position of the ball on the playing field.

The cursor 42 according to this embodiment is simply a thin strip of clear plastic material wrapped all the way around the stator 32. The overlapping ends of the plastic material may be joined together in any suitable fashion. It will be observed that in this embodiment, the cursor 42 does not have an indicator line as in the foregoing embodiment. It will also be observed that the total width of the cursor 42 is exactly equal to ten yards on the scale 36. In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, the required first down yardage is indicated by means of the two edges of the cursor 42.

Use of thisembodiment of the invention should again be obvious. As previously indicated, the zero line 38 is always utilized to mark the position of the ball on the playing field, while the edges of the cursor 42 mark the required first down yardage. It will be apparent that the yards required for a first down will always be indicated by reading the scale on the slide 34 under one or the other of the edges of the cursor 42. According to this embodiment of the invention, the calculation of distances from the line of scrimmage is facilitated, in the sense that the zero line 38 will always be moved to correspond to the line of scrimmage, i.e., to the movement of ball.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention combining the scales shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. That is, the scale 44 on the top of the stator is again identicalto the scales l4 and 36 described earlier. The slide indicated generally at 46 includes a series of indicia lines spaced to correspond to the markings on the scale 44. These indicia are numbered at their upper endin a pair of scales having the overlapping zero points 48 and 50. These scales correspond to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. The indicia on the slide 46 are numbered at their lower end in a pair of scales having the common zero point 52, which corresponds to the scale shown in FIG. 3.

The cursor 54 according to this embodiment has a width equal to ten yards on the scale 44, and is also provided with a central indicator line 56.

Finally, it will be seen that the lower portion of the stator is provided with the scales 58 and 60. Each of these scales is equivalent to one hundred yards on the football playing field, the scale 58 being numbered from zero to fifty as in scale 44 but with the zeropoint corresponding to the fifty yard point on scale 44, while the scale 60 is numbered from zero to left to right. These scales are particularly useful in computing the length of long touchdown plays, extra long punts, field goals, and the like.

It was indicated at the outset that one object of this invention was to provide a football slide rule having space to carry an advertising message. In the case, for

example, of a slide rule corresponding to FIG. 5, the entire back surface of the rule could be imprinted with any suitable message. Similarly, that portion of the stator behind the slide 46 could also carry an advertising message, if desired. Similarly, the back of the slide and "portions of the front of the slide also can carry advertising messages.

It will be noted that in FIG. 3, the inturned edge 32b (the lower portion of the stator) does not carry any scale. Thus, this portion could be used for advertising purposes, although if desired the scales S8 and 60 shown in FIG. 5 could be utilized in connection with this embodiment. If desired scales 58 and 60 in FIG. 5 can be utilized with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. If desired, slide 12 in FIG. 1 can be printed on the reverse of slide 34 in FIG. 3 for use with cursor 54 of FIG. 5 so that the person using the invention can utilize either the embodiment in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 according to his preference.

It is believed that the foregoing constitutes a full and complete disclosure of this invention. No limitations are intended except as specifically set forth in the claims which follow.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A slide rule device for use with a football game comprising:

a. a first member having spaced and numbered indicia corresponding to the yard line markers on a football playing field;

' b. ball position marking means movable with respect to said first member for indicating the position of a ball on said playing field; and

c. a yardage calculating member movable with respect to said first member and positioned adjacent thereto, said calculating member having inof said calculating member, and ascending in opposite directions from said zero point, said scales on said calculating member overlapping whereby the distance between said zero points of said scales is equal to the required first down yardage, whereby distances on said playing field with respect to said ball position may be readily ascertained.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said ball position marking means comprises a slidable member having an indicator line.

3. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein the width of 'said slidable member is equal to the required first down yardage on said first member.

4. A slide rule device for use with a football game comprising:

a. a stator, said stator including at least a first scale with spaced, numbered indicia corresponding to the yard line markings on a football playing field;

b. a cursor slidable with respect to said stator and having an indicator line; and

c. a slide, slidably carried by said stator and having indicia spaced to correspond to said indicia on said stator and arranged in two scales, said scales each having a zero point generally centrally of said slide and ascending in opposite directions from said zero points, said zero points overlapping by a distance equal to ten yards on said indicia on said stator.

5. The device claimed in claim 4 wherein said stator includes at least a second scale having indicia spaced to correspond to the indicia of said first scale, and numbered continuously from zero at one end of said scale to one hundred at the other end of said scale.

6. The device claimed in claim 4 wherein said stator includes at least a second scale having indicia spaced to correspond to the incline of said first scale, and numbered from. zero at the center thereof outwardly toward the ends.

l t k 

1. A slide rule device for use with a football game comprising: a. a first member having spaced and numbered indicia corresponding to the yard line markers on a football playing field; b. ball position marking means movable with respect to said first member for indicating the position of a ball on said playing field; and c. a yardage calculating member movable with respect to said first member and positioned adjacent thereto, said calculating member having indicia spaced to correspond to said indicia on said first member and arranged in two scales, said scales each having a zero point generally centrally of said calculating member, and ascending in opposite directions from said zero point, said scales on said calculating member overlappinG whereby the distance between said zero points of said scales is equal to the required first down yardage, whereby distances on said playing field with respect to said ball position may be readily ascertained.
 2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said ball position marking means comprises a slidable member having an indicator line.
 3. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein the width of said slidable member is equal to the required first down yardage on said first member.
 4. A slide rule device for use with a football game comprising: a. a stator, said stator including at least a first scale with spaced, numbered indicia corresponding to the yard line markings on a football playing field; b. a cursor slidable with respect to said stator and having an indicator line; and c. a slide, slidably carried by said stator and having indicia spaced to correspond to said indicia on said stator and arranged in two scales, said scales each having a zero point generally centrally of said slide and ascending in opposite directions from said zero points, said zero points overlapping by a distance equal to ten yards on said indicia on said stator.
 5. The device claimed in claim 4 wherein said stator includes at least a second scale having indicia spaced to correspond to the indicia of said first scale, and numbered continuously from zero at one end of said scale to one hundred at the other end of said scale.
 6. The device claimed in claim 4 wherein said stator includes at least a second scale having indicia spaced to correspond to the incline of said first scale, and numbered from zero at the center thereof outwardly toward the ends. 